Children Of The Night
By: Veronica Leigh Marquette
CHAPTER 15
A chorus of well wishes and congratulations met them both as Jessy escorted
Kris into, the over crowded living area. She was going to miss this place, as
crowded and noisy as it was, it was still home to her. "Thank you," she smiled,
accepting yet another kiss, and congratulations. Like making it through her
first year was some kind of big deal.
There were flowers, everywhere, garlands and wreaths bedecked every wall,
and ivy was even more prevalent than the flowers. "It looks almost
heathenistic." Kris laughed, taking one of the many garlands of flowers and
ribbons, and let it be her crown. If she were the guest of honor, so be it.
She would act the part. "So, where is the sacrificial virgin?"
"Damn, I knew I had forgotten something." Patty hugged her. "Sorry, Ma'am,
but the store was fresh out of them. Must be the season."
"I don't know how virginal I am, but I would gladly be a sacrifice for you
tonight, Krissy." Mitch kissed her. "Happy birthday, love." He pressed his
present in her hand. "It ain't near as good as Puck's, but it is something."
"Mitch," she hugged him tighter. "You didn't have to get me anything. None
of you did. The very fact that you are here, that is more than present enough."
"Sure I did. When have I ever missed your birthday? I mean, how many times
do you turn one?" He stepped back, grinning as she opened the box, pulling out
a little painted, figurine of a vampire, cape and all." She just laughed.
"Don't look a thing like anyone I know."
"Hey, I was strapped for ideas. I have no clue what you would wear, so
clothes were out of the question. You have more money than anyone I know of,
short of God. So I couldn't think of anything you would need, that you couldn't
get, yourself. You just don't seem like a watch person, so."
"You got me a little metal vampire." She couldn't help it, it was just too
funny. "God, I love you."
"Happy birthday, baby." Bobby hugged her. "Getting used to coming to
grips, with the fact that someone can actually have a birthday, when their dead,
is going to take me a few more years to get a handle on. You do know for a
corpse, you look damn good."
"So, I am destined to get corpse jokes for the next several years, I see."
"Not if they upset you. Master would skin me alive if I upset you."
"No, he will not. I won't let him hurt any of you. You've known me for how
many years, Bobby, I don't hurt people, and I don't let other people hurt people
either."
"So, you're being teased about being among the good looking zombies, I see."
Jessy kissed the back of her neck. "Just keep blaming, it, on all the
preservatives that you ate while you were still alive."
* * *
Mitch almost lost consciousness, as he felt her fangs as he drank from her
throat.
*Enough of that, baby, you lose yourself now, I do believe that I know of at
least one who will be truly hurt. *
Kris growled softly, pulling back. "Later, baby. But Jessy is right. I
need to spend a little time up and moving before I crawl back into bed."
Mitch just laughed, kissing her again. "Can't blame a guy for trying.
Because after you see what puck has for you, I will be back with Danny and
Brenda, for the night. Trust me."
"You keep saying that." She looked to where Ryan stood, looking nervous.
"What, is, it Puck?"
He lifted a large wrapped package. "Happy Birthday, M'lady." He used a
name that none of the others did for her. It wasn't as informal as Ma'am, but
nor was it as stuffy as mistress.
She took the gift from him. "What have you done?" She pulled the paper
off, to look down at the painting Ryan had made for her. "Oh," she was at a
loss for words. She wasn't sure, which time he had sketched the drawing. He
was always sketching. And the scene was so common in her life now that, it
really could have been done, almost at any time. She was resting, naked,
against Jessy, a touch of blood on her lip where she had just fed, and they both
looked so at peace as they watched on, in the painting, at all that was around
them. "I, Puck," she looked up to where Jessy stood, looking at the picture in
wonder. "Look what he did." She handed him the painting so that she could pull
Ryan to her. "How, just how did you do that, in this house? It is beautiful,
but how did you keep it quiet?"
"I slipped out during the day to work on it, and always made it back to you
before you woke. Randy caught me in the beginning, and when he saw what I was
doing, made sure that I got back and forth without anyone really knowing about
it. Butch, little one and sweety did of course, but you know them. They want
to please you as much as I do. So they kept quiet."
"I knew our boy, was making something for you. But I never dreamed. My
God, Puck, you did this, I can't believe you did this."
"So you like it? I had meant to put clothes on you both, but I just
couldn't decide what I wanted you both to wear. You just look so, I don't know,
right."
Kris just laughed, hugging him even tighter. "Like it, baby, it is the most
beautiful, short of the real thing, that I have ever seen. It is wonderful.
Thank you."
"You know what," Sam whispered to Mitch, "you were right, they're going to
be far too interested in that little show off. Wanna come and share the evening
with Tracy and me?"
Ryan couldn't believe his luck, last night, Jessy had chosen him for the
night, and today. He shared time so very often with Kris, but together, like
this, only one other time. And as Jessy's fangs sank deep into his flesh, and
Kris pulled his head to the cut on her neck, he had never been given this
before.
*Soon, Puck, I promise, very soon. * Jessy pulled back, stroking his hair
as he clung to Kris.
*Kris, Ma'am, I think you need to take care of the gift you have for him.
The baby is getting fussy, * Brenda's light touch on Kris's thoughts.
Kris just laughed. *Tell her not to be afraid. I promised her she and her
baby would be safe her, and taken care of. And they will. Just hold her hand
until I can get Jessy to her. * "Jess, I have to tell you something."
Jessy looked up, something was wrong, there was a mortal, not bound to him,
in his house, no, not one, but two, and they both were very afraid. "What is
it? You have a mortal in 'my' home, one that I don't know."
Kris touched his arm. "Relax, she is fine. How did you know, I thought
what with her not being linked with us, I could block her from you."
"One of them is in pain, there is no way to block that feeling from me, not
in my own house.." He pulled away from her to track the mortal. "Why?"
*Jessy, hold up, sweety gave me this idea. Was the one that went earlier
and talked this girl into coming here. She is like Tracy in the fact that she
needs you. She is young, alone, with a baby, and very afraid, I promise, soon
enough, you'll have a mortal child of your own, to help, raise. *
Jessy just looked at her. How had she known? Wait, Brenda, of course. He
hadn't realized his words of sympathy to her would bring this to pass. A child,
a mortal infant, and here, now, he was still struggling to bear up under the
duty of having to practically raise her as if she were his own Childe. But now,
"you, she, I am to play the father to a mortal child?"
"Well, I thought you wished you could. I don't see why, just because you
can't father one you can't still be one.
*Do you have any idea, what problems you have made girl? Yes, I said that,
but I know it can't be. I can't blood bond a baby. My god, if I did, then he
or she would never be anything but just that. We can't ask it to hide away for
the time it grows. But we don't dare let it free. Children sometimes can't
control their tongues. *
*I thought of that already Jessy. I checked with Ramaine before I send
sweety to talk to her. If you can't block the knowledge from the baby's mind.
He says he can. We will be at our new house, Jess, and I know, from experience
that as long as the sun can't touch you, you have gotten up early, or stayed up
late before. So, you can be a part of this baby's life. I'm sorry, love, I
thought you would like this. I never meant to make trouble. *
He stopped himself from asking her just how the hell she thought he would
see this as anything but a problem. She was right. He had to admit, he had
said he wished to help raise a child. How was she to know that he knew that was
a wish that he could never have fulfilled. How was she to know that it
couldn't, or shouldn't be done. "It's not your fault, baby. I should have
never mentioned that wish of mine. Never gave you the opportunity to do, what
obviously, is not impossible, but should never be done." He smiled softly.
"Well there is nothing we can do about it now. Ramaine should have never
encouraged it in you. But now that he has, I'll fix everything. Who knows, you
just might be right, and this will all work out to the best."
"Please, Jessy, don't snap at her, it's my fault. I didn't know you would
be like this. Don't be angry, at her."
"I'm not angry at you, and I won't growl at the young mother, gods, she is
probably scared enough as is."
Kris felt wretched. She only wanted to do the right thing. But in her
ignorance she had made a big mistake. It didn't matter if Jessy didn't yell at
her. She knew him well enough to know that he wasn't happy with her at that
moment. "You have best let me go in first. She doesn't know you, and she might
get even more upset."
* * *
Brenda hushed the young woman as Kris opened the door. "It's okay Fran,
see, I told you that she would come soon enough." To Kris, "sorry Ma'am, one
minute she is okay, the next, well she hasn't spent any time with either of you,
give her a few minutes to calm down."
Kris smiled trying had not to display her fangs. This girl had to be
nervous as hell, she didn't need one of the walking undead, scaring her anymore
than what she already was. "Fran, right?"
The girl nodded, clutching the bundle in her arms. "What are you?"
Kris looked to Brenda. "You didn't tell her once she got here?"
"I didn't think I could keep her from running. I'm not like you and he."
The woman tried to explain.
"So, what did she tell you?"
"That, if I came here, that I wouldn't lose Nicky, that she knew someone
that would take care of me, and help with my baby."
"Well, she didn't lie to you, honey, both you and your baby are safe here.
But," she looked back to where Jessy stood in the doorway. "Jessy, this is
Fran. And her baby," she looked to the girl. "Nicky, right?"
The girl didn't answer her, she just looked at Jessy, fear thick around her.
"Come on, love, go talk to Ryan, I will deal with her."
*Please, Jessy, I fucked up, not her. Please, don't do anything. *
He touched her cheek, smiling softly at her. *When have I ever hurt any of
those in my house? Even, Jake, after all that he had done, I didn't do anything
horrid to him. It's okay, she's just scared. Scared I can deal with trust me,
love. Go on and finish thanking your boy for the wonderful gift he has made
you. I will take care of her. *
Kris just nodded. "Come on, Sweety, he wants to talk to her alone. Why
don't you come out here and see what Ryan has made for me." She took the
woman's hand leading her gently from the room.
Jessy quietly closed the door as the, two, left. Taking a deep breath,
steadying himself, he turned to greet the girl. The look of absolute terror in
her eyes hit him hard. "Oh, please, I am not going to hurt you. It's okay.
Believe it or not, you have nothing to fear, least of all, from me."
She held her baby so tightly, that he woke and began to cry. "Who, what,
are you?" She tried to sooth the crying baby in her arms.
"My name is Jessy, and as for what I am, put the baby down, you might drop
him." He gently pushed, forcing her to obey. "Okay," she went to comfort the
infant boy, as he howled at being put down. "No, a little crying won't hurt
him." He slowly moved to take her head in his hands, looked down at her, with
such compassion in his eyes. "First, I am your Master, your protector. Second,
I am one of the Blood, you know us as vampires." *Ssshh, * his, light mental
touch flowed over her, silencing the cry on her lips. *Don't be afraid of me,
child, I swear, my word. I will not hurt you. * He gently led her to a chair,
pulling her into his lap.
She couldn't, speak, couldn't move. Her terror screamed.
*No, ssshh, don't be this way. You are safe. * He was trying, straining so
hard, that had he still been able to sweat, he would be stained with it as a
tribute to his exertions.
Slowly, she began to settle. The blind terror that she had been feeling
began to fade. "That's better." He stroked her cheek, lightly, trying to aid
his efforts to calm her. "Now, do you think I can return your voice?" Her dark
blue eyes shifted and there was a glimmer of hope, of pleading in them. "No
screaming, let me talk to you before you give into your fears again. Okay,
baby, you can talk."
Her bottom lip trembled. He was a vampire, or at least thought he was, and
with her body frozen, as it was, she had to accept that it might be the truth.
"Wh-what do you want?"
"To take care of you. To help you care for your child. That was why you
were brought. I had made the mistake of musing once that it was a shame, that
with her first drink from me, that Brenda's pregnancy would end that I would
rather enjoy helping raise a child. Creating my own is forbidden to me, so
raising a mortal child would have been nice. Sweety, she remembered that
musing, and told Kris, who is your mistress. And together, they cooked up this
scheme to see my wish was made reality. I can only assume that you knew my girl
before she became part of my house."
"I didn't know where she had gone, then she showed up, telling me that she
had a place that I would be safe. But, you're, you're." She began to cry.
"Please, don't kill me. I won't say anything, no matter what you do, just
please don't kill me. Don't hurt my baby."
Jessy just shook his head, making shushing noises. "Hush, Fran. No one is
going to hurt you or your baby. Brenda is right. I don't hurt those I care
for. And I can't kill you without hurting you."
She looked at him. "What are you going to do to me?" It was the barest of
whispers.
'Okay, now let's see how good I am at control, without taking her will'. If
he could effect her even the least bit, then he might not have to call for help
when the baby grew into a child. "You know what I am, what 'we' are. You can
never leave. You will be mine. But I would just as soon not take your free
will from you. But I will." He touched his lips with a single finger to
silence her cry. "Ssshh, wait, listen to me. If you are willing to just go
into this willingly, trust me enough to give me your life, I will bear up to the
honor you place in my hands. But, if, you can't, if the thought of being with
me. Of my feeding from you is more than you can face. I will take that problem
away from you. And take your ability to chose. You will be very lost and
confused until you recover, but that is all right. I won't let anyone hurt you
while you are like that. I promise." He pressed his lips to her brow.
"Like I have told Brenda. The tie you will share with me, by the drinking
of my blood, has many advantages. You will never have to worry about coming
away from me pregnant, from any of the men here. I have no clear idea just how
long a mortal lives after they have been bound to one of us, but, I have had my
first, with me, for near twenty years, and he still looks no older than you. My
blood will give you added life, greater strength, immunity to all illnesses.
Think, child, countless years, health, strength, you will look as sweet as you
do right now, for a very, very, long time. And I will love you, and care for
you. That is your right and my privilege."
She just looked at him, losing herself in his eyes. "You, my baby, he's not
gonna?"
"Fran, he is why you were brought here. We didn't need any more, but
because of a half-intended wish, you are here. I will stand by you, help raise
him as my son. I will never hurt him. Nor will I ever allow his mother, who
now belongs to me, to ever be hurt either." She broke down into tears. "Ssshh,
I didn't mean to frighten you. I only wanted you to understand how strongly I
feel about this. You aren't in any danger."
"Please," she just sat there, pulled into herself and cried.
"Come here, baby, ssshh, it's okay. Just say yes, give me your word that
you will be mine, and it will be over. Give me your word, and I will accept it.
*Just say yes, Darlin, you won't have to worry about saying anything else. I
will know your heart and mind. I will understand. Just give me your trust. *
'He can read my mind'! She gasped fear rising again.
*Don't, please, I will not intrude on your private thoughts, only what is at
the surface. *
She broke, just folded in on herself. "Okay," she tried to keep from
pulling away as Jessy pulled her close. "Please, don't hurt me."
"Never, now, tell me, are you breast feeding?" He would move on, let her
begin to see that he would see to the duty he had with her. She shook her head.
"Good, if you had been, I was going to wait to finish your tie with me until
after I had someone go out and buy formula. I don't know what effect my blood
would have on your milk."
She looked up, almost against her will. "Please, don't, take from me twice,
but don't, he's just a baby, please."
*Fran, you can't lie mind to mind. The truth cannot be hidden like this.
He will, call, me Papa. I will raise him with you as my son. I would never
hurt him. He alone in my house will remain un-bound to me. He will grow up.
The blood you take from me. I am worried that it would see to it that he never
did. I would never do that to him. *
"Why?" She whispered, "Why are you doing this?"
"Because the woman I love, more than anything else in my world, love as if
she were my true Childe. She wanted to see I had a wish, one that I never meant
to voice. She expects me to accept her gift. And if I take you, I must also
see to him. And the only way I can do that, that the boy would understand, is
if I do it as his father." He leaned forward to kiss her lightly. "You gave me
your trust. I will never see it abused."
She cried out, as she felt the hot flash of pain as Jessy bit her, but then
. . . . .
*It's okay, see, I have stopped. * He pulled her close to his chest,
holding her tightly as he leaned forward to remove the knife from his boot.
*Now, Darlin, be mine. * He gashed his throat, pulling her head up to it.
*Drink. * He moaned softly as he felt her mouth open against his skin, the pull,
on his blood.
'No'! Her mind cried out as she felt the cut heal, and the blood stop.
Jessy just held her, stroking her hair as she bit at his throat, trying to
keep his blood flowing to her. "You are mine now, Darlin. Do you feel it?"
She touched her lips, so confused. "What, happened? What did you do to
me?"
"I shared blood with you. I made you mine."
She shook her head. "But, it," she couldn't seem to make the words come
out.
"That is how it will always be. There is no pleasure like when I feed from
you, other than when you feed from me. And when it is done at the same time,
there is none greater." He captured her lips with his, drawing a response from
her. "My blood will enable your body to heal much faster than before. What I
took from you, your body will now be able to replace in a couple of hours
instead of days."
She had lost her virginity at thirteen, been a prostitute since she was
sixteen, knew more about a man than most women who were twice her age, but now,
like this, it all just seemed to wash away. Here like this, in his arms.
Responding to him like she was she felt new again.
"What do you want me to call you," the question was soft, "Do I call you
Master?" She sat, at peace, in his lap.
"You, you call me Jessy. Kris is your mistress, and she prefers to be
called ma'am. But you, you call me Jessy. I will not have the mother of my
son, call me master." And as if he heard him, the baby began to cry. "Go on
Darlin, he's hungry, and wet. You get his bottle ready, I will try my hand at
attempting to change him." He gently pushed her off his lap. "You do realize,
I have no idea what side is up on a diaper." He grinned softly as she giggled,
bending to get both a pre-made bottle and a diaper from her bag.
* * *
Kris looked up from Ryan and Brenda as Jessy led Fran back into the main
room. "Was about to intrude on you. What took so long?"
"First, I had to earn her trust. Then after we had finished making her
mine, Nick, here, he woke up and had to be fed and changed. Would have probably
taken a lot less time, but I was stupid enough to decide I wanted to try to
change him. No offense, dear, sorry for sounding sexist, but, I think, I'll
leave, diaper, changing to the women in my home. You at least are smart enough
to know what to do." He saw to it that Fran was seated. "Now, I do believe I
need to change. When I finally got the thing off him, he christened me." He
looked at Fran, holding up a hand. "Hush, girl. I am sure, as he grows, I am
going to be so gifted with many more of his bodily fluids."
Kris watched him, move across the room to the stairs. You forgive me?
There was never anything to forgive. Like I said, I will take care of this.
After all, it would appear, I seem to be getting rather good at being a father.
I love you.
And I you, beloved, and I you.
* * *
"You coming to bed, Jess?" Kris was ready to call it a night. Actually she
wanted to do nothing more than finish thanking Ryan for what he had given her.
"Soon," he sat on the edge of the bed, rocking the baby. Fran lay behind,
him, watching closely. "Let me absorb this just a little longer."
"He's absolutely adorable." Kris leaned over to kiss him. "Take your time,
I'm sure Ryan and I will come up with something to do, to keep ourselves
occupied in your absents." Take pity on the girl, Jess, you fed from her, have
kept her at your side, all night. Make love to her. I know she has to be so
hot for you, if it wasn't for the fact that you still frighten her, she would
probably have attacked you by now.
I will, do you really think I could resist, as you have said, I have fed
from her, and she has been with me ever since. But let me see to her baby,
first. Then perhaps, she will relax enough to be a little less frightened of
me.
You know, I think that this might be good for you. God knows, you have a,
father's, soul.
Jessy looked down at the sleeping infant in his arms, and then back to his
mother. "I do think, he is finally asleep." He rose slowly, trying not to
disturb the sleeping infant. "Shall we go and tuck him in bed. Just as soon as
we get to the new house, I am sure that one of the many rooms can be decorated
in all the things he will need as he grows up. But for now, he will have to
make due with one of the drawers in your room. As so many of the woman that I
knew from my past, did."
* * *
Jessy watched on as she settled her baby, his son. He was so afraid, he
would make a mistake, that this sweet desire to give him what ever he wished
for, would blow up in her face as he was forced to eventually, either kill the
boy, or see that he never was allowed free thought again.
No! He would not allow that to happen. He will call me Papa, he will not,
as a child, know that I claim him, always. I will make this work. One positive
thing about the chaos that his life was now, he had learned to be very quick on
his feet. "Don't worry about him, Darlin, he will sleep safely." He gently
turned her to gaze down into her eyes. "Come here, I am hungry again, And I
need to make your body as much mine, and I have made your mind."
If I was willing to let it happen, for money, I can, and, will, do it for
this. She didn't fight him, as Jessy bent to lift her up to carry her to the
bed. She had seen the others, and how they were to each other. They belonged
to this one, same as she did. Surely, if they were as loving and kind to each
other. Then he was the cause. That he would be the same.
"You're not afraid." Jessy was just a little surprised. Then, he smiled.
Surprised or no, he was very pleased. Another, benefit of his new life, was the
need to practice his mental skills more often.
She looked up at him. "Even if all that you told me, isn't true. If it is
all just a game you play, you took me. I will play, be anything you want. If
only because, if the only thing you offer me, is a real home, I see it as worth
anything you want me to do." She reached out and pulled at his shirt, trying to
loosen it. "I trust you, because of so many, 'ifs'."
I will make this work. He helped her pull his shirt off over his head.
Reaching to work the buttons of her top. Exposing her torso. Felt her body
begin to give into his hands, even as he pulled her top off. She really isn't
afraid of me. The reality was sweeter than her blood as he sank his fangs into
the flesh of her breast. He wasn't even two hundred yet, and already, yes,
indeed. Now the world might be more complicated since he had taken Randy, but
with each new layer of problems, came added rewards. Cultivating, in the,
freedom that this child responded with.
He chuckled at her as she hurried to pull the rest of her clothes from her.
"What's the hurry, Darlin? I have hours."
Hours, he was going to be with her for hours. She would start to show him,
what she had to offer to pay for all he was offering her. "That's good," she
went into his arms, mouth against his chest. "It's going to take that long."
Fingers worked at the buttons of his jeans.
He leaned back, pulling her over him, feeling the light fingers on him, the
mouth that was so eager. "You don't say." As the warm, wet, heat of her mouth
took him. He closed his eyes, and moaned softly. He reached a hand to stroke
her hair softly, silently encouraging her. Do, you trust me? He cupped her
head as she tried to pull away, to answer him. No words Darlin, here, like
this, where only truth is told. Do you trust me?
She stopped for a moment, thinking. Did she trust him? He kept asking
that. Yes.
Then come here, take the knife in my boot, and hand it to me.
"What?" She made it back up his body, holding out the knife.
He wrapped his arms around her, turning so that he could look down into her
eyes. "I keep asking this, I know. But do you trust me?"
She stopped, eyes searching his face for something. "Yes, why do you keep
asking. You, have bitten me twice already, you haven't hurt me. I believe that
you won't.
He kissed her. "Because, this time, I want to do more than just feed from
you. Will you take from me while I do from you? It is a very intense feeling.
I want to make sure you believe that I can and will, control myself during it."
He reached and with a light touch, parted her thighs so he would slip in. You,
you have given me more than I ever hoped for, with not only your child, but also
your trust, so freely given. I will see to it that you understand, fully, how
much this means to me. He cut deep into her jugular, offering her his blood, as
he leaned down and fed on hers. Giving into the bliss that he felt with her.
Rocking slowly, making love to her so very gently.
Had Fran, been able to think, hadn't been so into what he was making her
feel. She might have felt a touch of apprehension. Nicky was only five days
old. She was still so tore up from his birth. But as she was, totally immersed
in all that he was pouring on her, by the times she thought to question him, he
was already making love to her, and it was so good.
